End of row detection and compacting sequence for a cotton harvesting machine

ABSTRACT

An automatic end of row detection and compacting sequence for a cotton harvesting machine which is initiated responsive to the machine ceasing harvesting at the end of a crop row, as represented by a condition such as raising a picker drum of the machine from a harvesting position to a non-harvesting position. Steps of the sequence can include ceasing operation of augers of compactor apparatus located in the cotton receiver are turned off, and moving the compactor apparatus downwardly within a cotton receiver of the machine and against cotton accumulated in the lower region of the receiver, one or more times, for further and better compacting the cotton. Then, when the machine is aligned with a new swath or row and a condition such as the picker unit being lowered to the harvesting position, normal operation of the compactor apparatus can be resumed.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/557,658, filed Mar. 29, 2004.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to a compacting sequence for a cottonmodule builder or packager on a cotton harvesting machine, and moreparticularly, to an automatic process for detecting arrival of themachine at a row end or end of a harvesting pass at which harvesting istemporarily ceased, for initiating a process for compacting harvestedcotton located in the packager or module builder, then automaticallyceasing the compacting process when the harvesting operation is resumed.

BACKGROUND ART

Commonly, known cotton harvesting machines include a basket or otherreceiver which serves as a compacting chamber for packaging orcompacting the harvested cotton into a unitary body or module. Compactorapparatus including a frame supporting at least one auger is typicallydisposed in an upper region of the basket or other receiver and ismodulated downwardly with the auger or augers actuated for distributingthe cotton in the basket and then with the augers off compacting itdownwardly against a floor of the basket. The packing occurs in process,as the cotton is being harvested and conveyed into the chamber, and istypically initiated from one of three conditions including (1) augerpressure exceeding a threshold limit; (2) a yield signal from a yieldmonitor reaching a set point; and (3) achieving a count value set by theoperator. However, each of these conditions will be present only whenthe harvesting machine is harvesting, not when the machine is betweenpasses through the field, which would be an ideal time to add compactioncycles so as to better compact the module or body of cotton.

Thus, what is sought is a process for determining an end of row or swathand automatically initiating a compacting sequence, to provide theadvantages and overcome one or more of the problems set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, an automatic end ofrow detection and compacting sequence for a cotton harvesting machinewhich provides many of the advantages and overcomes many of the problemsset forth above, is disclosed.

Generally, as the cotton harvesting machine reaches the end of a swathor row, and the picker drums for harvesting the cotton from the cottonplants are raised, the compacting sequence is automatically initiated.Steps of the sequence include, but are not limited to, turning off orensuring that augers of compactor apparatus located in the cottonreceiver are turned off, or are turned off, then moving the compactorapparatus downwardly within the cotton receiver and against cottonaccumulated in the lower region of the receiver, one or more times, forfurther and better compacting the cotton. Then, when the machine isaligned with a new swath or row and the picker units are lowered to thepicking position, normal operation of the compactor apparatus resumes.

As a result, additional compaction cycles are incorporated into thecotton harvesting operation, which has been found to provide a betterbuilt cotton module or body of compacted cotton.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified side view of a representative cotton harvestingmachine, shown in a harvesting mode approaching an end of rows of cottonplants in a cotton field;

FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic top view of the rows, and showing atypical path for a turning maneuver of the harvesting machine at the endof the rows for aligning the machine with subsequent rows to beharvested;

FIG. 3 is a high level flow diagram showing steps of operation of a endof row detection and compacting process according to the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of an end of row detection circuitfor the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1, a representative cottonharvesting machine 10 including apparatus for an end of row detectionand compacting process according to the present invention, is shown.Harvesting machine 10 generally includes a plurality of cottonharvesting or picker drums 12 extending across a forward end 14 ofmachine 10. Picker drums 12 are operable in the well known, conventionalmanner, for picking cotton from rows of cotton plants 18, as machine 10moves forwardly along the rows through a cotton field. The harvestedcotton 16 is conveyed through ducts 20 into an upper region of aninterior 22 of a cotton receiver 24, which can be a conventional basket,compacting chamber, module builder, or the like. Compactor apparatus 26which can be of conventional, well known construction, is located in theupper region of interior 22, and is supported by fluid cylinders or thelike, for upward and downward compacting movement, denoted by arrow A,in a lower region of interior 22, for compacting cotton 16 containedtherein. Compactor apparatus 26 preferably includes at least one auger28 rotatable in opposite directions, as desired or required, fordistributing cotton 16 in interior 22, as denoted by arrow B.

Typically, during the normal picking process, picker drums 12 are in thelowered position shown. The compacting process is typically initiatedfrom one of three conditions: (1) auger pressure exceeding a thresholdlimit; (2) a yield signal for cotton coming into the receiver 24 reachesa set point; and (3) a timer exceeds a count value which is a variable(for operators without a yield sensor) set by the operator whodetermines a yield setting for the field conditions. However, whenmachine 10 reaches the end of the row or rows of cotton plants 18 beingcurrently picked, picker drums 12 are typically raised to a point whichshuts off the counter.

According to the present invention, it is at this location, namely, endof row 30, and using a convenient indicator, such as a position signalfor picker drums 12, indicating that they are in an elevated,non-picking position, that a process for additional compacting of cotton16 and interior 22 is automatically initiated. The compacting processpreferably comprises repeated cycling of the compactor apparatus 26upwardly and downwardly in direction A against the cotton, to compactthe cotton uniformly in the bottom of interior 22, as generally denotedby line 32.

Referring also to FIG. 2, a typical path of movement 34 of harvestingmachine 10 from line 30 at the end of harvested rows 18 to line 30 forentering another swath of rows 18, is shown. Compactor apparatus 26 ismoved upwardly and downwardly according to the process of the inventionas denoted by arrow A during substantially the entire time that machine10 moves along path of movement 34, and then ceases as picker drums 12are lowered to their picking position (FIG. 1) and harvesting isresumed. The normal compacting process involving operation of augers 28in one or both directions, as denoted by arrow B, is resumed, as isperiodic upward and downward compacting movement as denoted by arrow A.

FIG. 3 is a high level flow diagram showing steps for an automatic endof row detection and compacting process according to the invention. Atstep 36, at the end of the rows, denoted by line 30, (FIG. 1) theoperator raises the picker drums, which turns the acre counter off. Theraising of the drums and turning of the acre counter off, is used toturn off compactor auger 28, is denoted at step 38. Compactor apparatus26 is now cycled up and down, denoted by arrow A (FIG. 1), continuouslyas machine 10 proceeds along path 34, to better compact cotton 16 ininterior 22. Then, when the end of path 34 is reached and machine 10 isaligned with new rows of cotton plants 18 and drums 12 are lowered totheir picking position and the acre counter is turned on, as denoted atFIG. 42, the compactor cycles of step 40 are discontinued, and thenormal compacting process resumes, as denoted at step 44. This sequenceof steps can then be repeated when machine 10 reaches the end of the newrows of cotton plants 18 in the above-described manner.

FIG. 4 is a schematic circuit diagram 46 showing circuitry and apparatusfor a position sensor for detecting when picker drums 12 are in theirraised position, for automatically initiating the end of row detectionand compacting sequence of the invention. Circuit 46 includes an opticalsensor 48 having a contact connected to a DC power source by aconductive path 50 and a contact connected to ground by a conductivepath 52, such that, when sensor 48 is closed, which denotes raising ofthe drums, power is outputted along a conductive path 54 to a switch 56for ceasing or locking out operation of auger or augers 28, andcommencing the end of row compacting sequence. Then, when lowering ofthe drums is detected by sensor 48, the power output on conductive path54 to switch 56 is interrupted, such that operation of augers 28 andnormal compacting operation can be resumed.

It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps, andarrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated toexplain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made bythose skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within theprinciples and scope of the invention. The foregoing descriptionillustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however,concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in otherembodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.Accordingly, the following claims are intended to protect the inventionbroadly as well as in the specific form shown.

1. A method of operation of compactor apparatus in a cotton receiver ofa cotton harvesting machine, comprising steps of: responsive to at leastone condition represuntative of cessation of harvesting cotton by themachine, automatically initiating operation of the compactor apparatusin a compacting mode; and providing a sensor for sensor a verticalposition of a cotton picker drum of the harvesting machine, and whereinthe at least one condition representative of cessation of harvestingcotton by the machine comprises sensing raising the cotton picker drumfrom a harvesting position to a non-harvesting position.
 2. The methodof claim 1, comprising a further step of: responsive to at least onecondition representative of resumption of harvesting cotton by themachine, automatically ceasing operation of the compactor apparatus inthe compacting mode.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least onecondition representative of cessation of harvesting cotton by themachine comprises cessation of operation of an auger on the compactorapparatus.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one conditionrepresentative of cessation of harvesting cotton by the machinecomprises ceasing operation of an acre counter.
 5. The method of claim1, wherein operation of the compactor apparatus in the compacting modecomprises cyclically moving the compactor apparatus downwardly withinthe receiver against cotton accumulated in a lower region thereof tocompact the cotton, and moving the compactor apparatus upwardly from thecompressed cotton.